Mr. Laworn Saengsanit, Director of the Fiscal Policy Office and spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, revealed that the government has launched the 'We Travel Together' program to support tourism businesses and related sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by stimulating domestic tourism. The government will subsidize 40% of accommodation costs, up to 3,000 baht per room per night, support food and attraction entry fees of 600 baht per room per night, and subsidize 40% of airline ticket costs, up to 1,000 baht per seat.

Overall, the program has received positive feedback, with 6,000 accommodation providers expressing interest in participating. Since the program opened for public bookings on July 18, 2020, most operators have cooperated well, allowing people to plan and travel domestically at reduced costs while generating income for operators during a time of decreased international tourism. This has created the most positive domestic tourism atmosphere since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, to maintain the momentum of recovery in the tourism sector, which accounts for nearly one-fifth of Thailand's economy, we request cooperation from the minority of accommodation providers participating in the program who may be taking advantage of the situation to raise prices. They are urged to refrain from such practices, as short-term gains may not outweigh the potential damage to their reputation and future business opportunities. Today's consumers are well-informed and use technology to compare prices and service quality from various sources, enabling them to choose quality services at fair prices. The Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor this issue and consider appropriate measures for further oversight.

Source: Ministry of Finance